Liquid treating apparatus



May 2, 1933. c. R. MASON LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed April13, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

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I LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 15, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet2 IN V EN TOR. CHAfiZES fit MASON "BY v May 2, 1933. c. R. MASON LIQUIDTREATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 15, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. 5.MW w m 5 m V A O m M w W W 5 E m M nHn 35. 4L W Patented May 2, 193?;

a. time CHARLES E. IEASON, OF YOUNGSTOVJN, OHIO, ASSIG-IIOE OFTWO-FIFTHS .530 JOHN J. $CHAEFEER, F. YQUNGSTO'WN, GHEO LIQUID TREATINGAPPARATUS Refiled for abandoned application Serial No. 354,821, filed.April 13, 1929.

1932. Serial This invention appertains to a water purifying device whichis capable of being; used on a large scale such as for city waterplants.

One of th primary obj ects of my invention is the provision of means forpurifying water and other liquid by an electrolytic process, myapparatus being so constructed as to kill all bacteria in the liquid byelectricity.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of means forleadingthe water to be purified over a suitable table divided intosuitable weirs or channelways so that the water can be effectivelytreated during its flow through the channelways by my novel electrolyticprocess.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a receiving tankfor the water to be purified having an outlet apron for leading thewater over the table and into the 'channelways or weirs, each of thechannelways having a plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes arrangedtherein of difierent polarity with novel means for connectmg theelectrodes with the feed and return wires of "a source of electricalenergy of high voltage.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of means forstepping up the voltage to the electrodes by the use of a variablevoltage or induction transformer whereby the device can be effectivelyused with an ordinary source of electric light supply.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means for agitatingthe water incident to the flow of the same through the channelwaysthereby insuring of the proper electrolytic action taking place throughthe water as the same passes the electrodes of different a polarity.

This application filed May 11, No. 610,697.

provision of a settling tank for receiving the purified water from thetable, the settling tank being adapted to receive sand or other suitablematerial for clarifying the water prior to the delivery thereof to thecity mains.

A still further object of my invention is to provide novel means forpurifying water of the above character, which will be durable andetiicient in use, one that will be simple and easy to install and onewhich can be incorporated with a water system at a small cost.

i Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

The present application is filed in place of my abandoned applicationSerial Number 354,821, filed April 13, 1929.

In the drawings Figure l is a top plan view of my improved waterpurifying device, the wiring system therefor being; showndiagrammatically;

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the water purifying tableillustrating; the means for leading! the wires to the electrodes;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the table showithe formation of the water channelways or weirs therein and thearrangement of the electrodes in said channelways;

Figure l is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section through one ofthe channelways showing; the water abutments therein and the electrodesarranged adjacent to said abu'f'ments Figure 5 is an enlargedfragmentary perspective view through a portion of the table showing thearrangement of the water abutments in the channelways;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the holding straps forthe electrodes;

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the electrodes;

Figure 8 is a top plan View of a slightly modified form of my inventionin which I utilize a spiral channelway instead of a plurality oflongitudinally extending channelways;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the modified form of my device showingparts thereof broken away and in section and Figure 10 is an enlargedfragmentary top plan view of the table showing the means for moun ingthe electrodes in the spiral channelways.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter A generally indicates my improved water purifying devicewhich comprises a water receiving tank 15 and a spaced water settlingtank 20 with a table 25 connecting the tanks together, which table formsan essential part of the invention.

The water receiving tank 15 can be constructed from concrete if desiredand includes end walls 16 and side walls 17, the inner side wall beingprovided with an apron 18 for leading the water onto the table 25 as thesame overflows from the tank 15. A suitable supply pipe 19 leads intothe tank 15 adjacent to the outer side wall and this pipe can lead fromany suitable source of water supply. Arranged across the tank 15 and infront of the supply pipe 19, I prefer to arrange a screen 14 for holdingback solid matter in the water and preventing such solid matter frombeing delivered with the water onto the table 25.

The tank 20 can also be formed of concrete if preferred and is somewhatof the same configuration of the receiving tank 15 and has communicatingtherewith the outlet distributing apron 21 leading from the table 25 sothat the water, as the same flows from the table, will be received intosaid settling tank. This tank can be filled with granular material suchas sand or the like so as to clarify the water prior to the deliverythereof to the outlet pipe 22, which can lead to the water mains.

Referring to the table 25, which as stated, forms one of the salientfeatures of my invention, the same can also be constructed from concreteor the like and includes a lower flat wall 26, which can if preferred beslightly inclined toward the outlet apron 21. The table 25 has formed onits longitudinal side edges side walls 27 and is further provided withequi-distantly spaced longitudinally extending partition walls 28forming a plurality of longitudinally extending channelvmys or weirs 29.Each channelway at equi-distantly spaced points is provided withinwardly extending abutments 30 which can he formed integral with theside walls 27 and the partition walls 28. These abutments 30 form meansfor agitating the water incident to the passage of the water pastthesame and thus these abutments 30 are in the nature of baffles tohinder the passage of the water down the channelways or weirs.

In each channelway I arrange a plurality of pairs of electrodes 31 and32 which are preferably constructed from carbon and the electrode 31 ofeach pair can be considered as the positive member, while the electrode32 of each pair can be considered as the negative member. The electrodes31 and 32 are held in proper spaced position in the channelways by meansof straps 33 which are formed from electric insulating material and Iprefer to construct these straps from ebony board and the terminals ofthe straps are provided with slots 34 for the reception of the terminalposts 35 formed on or secured to the electrodes. These posts 35 receivebinding nuts 36 by means of which the wires can be connected thereto andwhereby the electrodes can be clamped to the holding straps. The strapsare held in proper spaced relation relative to one another by alongitudinally extending strap 37 which is also formed from insulatingmaterial and if desired can also be constructed from ebony. Thelongitudinal straps 37 of each channelway can have bolted theretotransversely ex tending end frames 38 formed of insulating material andthese frames are preferably anchored to the side walls 27 so as to berigidly connected therewith. The opposite end frames 38 may carry a wire39 extend ng lon gitudinally thereof, which wire is grounded as at 40.for a purpose which will he hereinafter described.

Each channelway 29 at the opposite ends thereof is provided with acopper screen 41 which screen not only functions to remove solid matterfrom the water, but also functions as means for grounding the water andeach screen has connected thereto a branch wire 42 which can beconnected to the wire 39 as heretofore described.

I also provide a transversely extending supporting frame 43 which frameis also formed of insulating material and is arranged equi-distantlyfrom the end frames 38. The frame 43 may include top and bottom bars 44and 45 and connecting upright end bars 46 provided with guide openings47. This frame 43 is also connected to the longitudinallyextending'straps 37 and forms a, further means for connecting thesestraps together and for bracing the same against shifting movement. Theguide openings 47 formed in the frame 43 can removahly receive upper andlower distributing tubes r and 49 which extend out from one end of theframe and receive the wires for the electrodes 31 and 32. The upper tube48 is provi=;lcd with plurality of outlet openings 50 for the positivewires and it can be seen that an opening 50 is arranged adjacent to eachchannelway. The lower tube 49 is provided with a plurality of outletopenings 51 for the negative wires and it can be seen that an opening 51is provided for each of the channelwa Referring to the wiring, thecurrent from any suitable source of. energy is led into a variablevoltage or induction transformer by line wires 61 and 62 which may haveincorporated therein a control. switch (33 and a meter 64. The variablevoltage transform-- or can be provided wit 1 a plurality of outlet taps65 of different voltages and I arrange adjacent to the table but spacedtherefrom the parallel feed and return wires 66 and 67 which can beconnected with any pair of the taps 65 of the desirable voltage. It isto he noted that the voltage from the ordinary line is stepped up arelatively great amount in order that a current of high voltage will bedelivered to the electrodes.

Leading from the wires 66 and 67 is a plurality of pairs of branch wires68 and 69 and the wire 69 of each pair of wires is connected to thenegative Wire 67, while the branch wire 68 of each pair of wires isconnected to the positive wire 67. A separate control switch 70 isarranged or interposed in the length of each branch wire 68 and 69 andthese wires are then led into their respective tubes 48 and 49, asshown, the positive wires being led into the tube 48 and the negativewires being led into the tube d9. The first pair of branch wires isprovided for the first channelway, the second pair of branch wires forthe second channelway, and so on, and thus means is independentlyprovided for controlling the flow of current to the electrodes for eachchannelway. The wire 68 for the first channelway is provided with aplurality of branches 71. so that the same can be connected to all ofthe positive electrodes and these wires 71 are all of the same lengthand the electrodes nearest the supporting frame 43 have the wiresthereof coiled to take up the excess length and by providing the wiresall of the same length, the same voltage will be delivered to all of theelectrodes. The negative wire 69 for the first channelway is providedwith a plurality of branches '72 which are connected with the negativeelectrodes and these branch wires 7 2 are also all of the same length,and the wires of the electrodes nearest the frame are coiled to take upthe said excess length. The other wires leading through the two tubesare led out through their openings 50 and 51 in the tubes 48 and 49 andare likewise connected to their respective electrodes in the difi'erentohannelways.

By this arrangement of parts, the water will he initially delivered intothe receiving tank from which the same will overflow down the apron 18into the various channelways, which divide the water into relativelynarrow streams, thus permitting the electrodes to effectively act uponthe water and set up the necessary electrolytic action therein. The flowof current back and forth between the positive and negative electrodeswill effectively kill all bacteria in the water, thus effectivelypurifying the same. As the water leaves the table, the same flows downthe apron 21 into the settling tank 20 where the same is clarified bythe sand or other ranular material and the water is then finallydelivered to the water mains through the pipe 22. As stated, the copperscreens 41 form means for grounding the water and thus acting as asafety device should a fuse be blown in any of the electrodes.

While the arrangement of the table shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive maybe considered as the preferred form of my invention, it is to beunderstood that my table can be modified within certain limits and inFigures 8 to 10 inclusive, 1 have shown one modified form of my table.The table in Figures 8, 9, and 10, is generally indicated by thereference character B and can be also made of concrete if so desired.The table is of substantially circular form and includes a disk-shapedflat bottom wall having an upstanding substantially annular marginalside wall 81 which is provided with a tangentially extending outlet wayor pipe 82 for conveying the water to the city main or to a settlingtank. The table has formed thereon a spi'al partition wall 83, the innerend of which can be connected to the inlet nozzle 84 having an outletopening 85 connnunicating with the innermost convolutions of saidpartition wall and the nozzle 84: has communicating therewith a supplypipe 86 for leading the unpurified water into said nozzle. Thearrangement of the spiral partition wall 83 in conjunction with theouter wall 81 forms a tortuous or spiral channelway 87 for the water.This channelway 8'? has arranged in each convolution thereof a pluralityof pairs of spaced electrodes 88 and 89 which electrodes have connectedthereto the feed and return wires, which wires can be arranged similarto the preferred form of my invention. It is to be also noted that Iarrange abutments 90 in the tortuous water channelway so as to cause theoddying or agitating of the water as the same flows around thechannelway. Changes in details may be made without departing from thespirit or the scope of my invention so long as these changes fall withinthe appended claims.

What I claim as new is 1. In an apparatus for purifying liquid, a tableover which the liquid flows, a plurality of lon itudinally extendingpartitions on the table (refining a plurality of relatively narrowliquid channelways, inwardly extending ballle blocks carried by thepartitions, and a plurality of spaced pairs of electrodes in saidchannelways arranged in facial abutment with said baflle blocks.

2. In an apparatus for purifying liquid, a

table having a channelway, a plurality of bailie blocks in saidchannelway, and a plurality of spaced pairs of electrodes in saidchannelway arranged in facial abutment with said baffle blocks.

3; In an apparatus for purifying liquid, an elongated table over whichthe water flows, a plurality of longitudinally extending partitions onthe table defining a plurality of relative narrow liquid channelways, aplurality of pairs of electrodes arranged in spaced relation in each ofsaid channelways, a frame extending transversely of said table andsecured thereto, positive and negative nianifold tubes carried by saidframe, each of said tubes being provided with openings on each sidethereof above said channelways, said frame being arranged substantiallyequidistantly the ends of the table, and positive 203 and negative wiresextending into their respective manifold tubes and led out of theopenings and electrically connected with the electrodes.

4. In an apparatus for purifying liquid, a "circular table having arelatively narrow spiral liquid receiving channel, the table beingprovided with an axially disposed liquid inlet and a peripheral wateroutlet, spaced pairs of baflie blocks arranged in the channelwaythroughout the length thereof, spaced pairs of electrodes arranged inthe channelway in facial abutnient with said abutment blocks, and strapsof insulating material extending across the various convolutions of theliquid receiving channel at spaced points connecting the electrodes ofeach pair together.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

40, CHARLES R. MASON.

